Jeamie Tshikeva is preparing to fight Frazer Clarke driven by the knowledge that Saturday’s contest could be the first of numerous live on the BBC.
The heavyweight fights for the vacant British title for the second time in his career, and will walk to the ring at the Vaillant Live in Derby, England aware of the plans of Boxxer’s Ben Shalom to thereafter stage a fight on British terrestrial television once a month.
Clarke-Tshikeva represents the first of Boxxer’s fight nights since, following the conclusion of their agreement with Sky Sports, they secured a broadcasting deal with the BBC. At Thursday’s final press conference Shalom revealed plans to deliver for the influential broadcaster once a month – Callum Simpson-Troy Williamson follows on December 20 – and “TKV” Tshikeva therefore recognises that not only against Clarke can he record his highest-profile victory, but that he can also earn the chance to transform his profile and career in a way that was previously beyond his reach.
“It’s great news,” the 32-year-old told BoxingScene. “One show a month – that’s great for boxing in general. Not just for Boxxer but boxing, and the BBC in general.
“I know how big this opportunity is, not only for now but for hereafter. It’s a big incentive.
“It’s very valuable [for me to fight on terrestrial television]. A lot of people, from where I come from, get to see me on the big stage, performing; doing what they can do too. They’re staying focused and sticking to what they can do. It’s very valuable for me – for my family and friends and people who are close to me to see me performing on Saturday. It’s very, very special.”
He regardless also recognises the extent to which he represents the underdog. The 34-year-old Clarke has long been a valuable asset for Boxxer; Clarke winning an Olympic bronze medal at Tokyo 2020 was also broadcast by none other than the BBC.
“I feel like I’m being underestimated and it’s been like that from the jump,” he said ahead of the showdown that will also be shown by Triller. “This back and forth started with Frazer from three years ago. After I knocked out an opponent [Jake Darnell] that he boxed, they asked him whether they thought I was good or not, and he said I was a tune-up fight for him, and I’ve always wanted to prove I’m not a tune-up fight; that I’m the real deal. So this is what I’m doing on Saturday by showing that I am the real deal, even though he’s overlooking me.
“There was a little bit of needle; there was a little bit of needle; it died down a little bit, but it livened up again after the postponement [from October 25 to November 29]. He started talking a bit funny, as I say, and now it’s started up a whole new needle and it’s going back and forth.
“I’m all good now, ‘cause I’ve been to the physio – I’ve sorted it out [the injury that forced the postponement]. I’ve had the rest that was needed to heal. But, listen, I was as frustrated as Frazer for the fight getting postponed. I really wanted to get that fight done. But I was told it was not a smart idea to get into that fight injured, so we had to make a very hard decision to try and get the fight postponed, which is what we did, and now we’re here Saturday.
“He’s probably the most experienced I’ve boxed, in terms of what he’s done in the past. I don’t see anything [that’s a strength] just yet.
“I don’t think his stamina’s great. Let’s see if he can take shots to the head and body again – we’ll see.”
Tshikeva was asked if that meant that he was suggesting that Clarke is not the same fighter since so devastatingly being stopped inside a round by Fabio Wardley, and he responded: “He’s not the same fighter. He’s hasn’t been hit since.
“That [victory over Ebenezer] Tetteh fight don’t really count – he hasn’t been hit since. So when he gets hit on Saturday we’ll see what happens.”
